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Busan prepares to turn its main stadium into global K-pop hub
A promotional poster for "2026 Busan One Asia Festival" / Courtesy of Busan Metropolitan City
By Lee Kyung-min
Busan is preparing to turn its main stadium into a weeklong showcase of K-pop, regional culture and global fandom as it celebrates the 10th anniversary of its flagship festival, a milestone that organizers say signals the city’s evolution into a major cultural export hub.
Busan Metropolitan City said Wednesday that the 2026 Busan One Asia Festival with NOL will be held across multiple venues beginning Friday, with a headlining “Big Concert” scheduled for June 27 and June 28 at Busan Asiad Main Stadium.
The festival, which launched in 2016, has grown into one of Korea’s largest K-pop-centered cultural events, combining live performances with exhibitions and interactive cultural programming designed to attract international visitors.
A separate “Park Concert” will take place Friday at Hwamyeong Ecological Park, offering a free daytime program featuring local musicians and mainstream artists performing against the backdrop of the Nakdong River.
The Big Concert will bring together a broad lineup of K-pop artists over two nights, including AKMU, Yunho of TVXQ, Treasure, Haechan of NCT, RIIZE, tripleS and others, underscoring the festival’s position as a cross-generational showcase of K-pop.
Beyond the stage performances, organizers plan to transform the stadium area into a cultural complex, with exhibition and experience zones highlighting Busan’s creative industries, including food, beauty, fashion, film and gaming.
A pedestrian “skyway” linking the stadium entrance to the surrounding area will feature street performances by emerging musicians alongside interactive booths such as the Busan Indie Connect Festival, webtoon-based travel exhibits and tourism showcases curated with performing artists.
The city said the festival aims to merge performance, tourism and local content into a single immersive experience for both domestic and international audiences.
Tickets are being sold through the NOL platform and NOL Ticket service.
This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.